Lawmakers override governor's veto for Marlborough park project

[unhappycamper]

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20150803/NEWS/150809215/0/breaking_ajax

Lawmakers override governor's veto for Marlborough park project
By Jeff Malachowski/Daily News Staff
Posted Aug. 3, 2015 at 5:51 PM

MARLBOROUGH – After being nixed from the state budget last month, a $250,000 earmark to revamp John Street Park is back in the budget after lawmakers voted to override the governor’s veto.

State Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, sponsored an amendment during the Senate’s budget process in the spring to provide the city with funding to upgrade John Street Park and add a splash pad at Ghiloni Park. The amendment was included in the final budget approved by the Legislature, but was one of a handful of projects rejected by Gov. Charlie Baker.

At Eldridge’s request, lawmakers voted to override Baker’s veto and restore the $250,000 in the state budget. It takes a two-thirds vote of the House of Representatives and Senate to override a gubernatorial veto.

Mayor Arthur Vigeant said he is pleased the funds for the renovation of John Street Park, an aging recreation area, are back in the budget. The park has a playground and basketball court, but has been characterized by city officials and Eldridge as rundown and old.

[merrily]

1. Millions were spent on the Boston waterfront park TO MAKE IT SMALLER, so more boats could dock.

I suspect it was because two hotels there cater to tourists who arrive by boat. Why it cost a few million to make it smaller is beyond me, but it did. Moving on....

I don't know if $250K to freshen up an old park is a lot or a little. What I do know is that people really need parks, especially people who live in cities. I would also bet somewhere in the state budget, one employee or consultant the Governor brought on is making more than $250K a year every year and this park does not have to be refurbished every year.

To sum up: As long as the budget was reasonable in light of what had to be done to refurbish the park, good on the state legislature.

Give the Governor a raise (2014 story): http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2014/12/01/give-the-governor-raise-special-advisory-commission-says/qye3Y9LXEgBpIthz2aCWXK/story.html